Pig casting machine



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PIG GASTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 23, 1966 Filed Nov. 19, 1963Amm? 3, 1966 P. @Mmmm mmm PIG CASTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov.19, 1963 United States Patent 3,267,53l PIG CATNG MACE-HNE PaulButtkereit, Wuppertal-Barmen, and Waiter Wolf,

Dortmund-Kerne, Germany, assignors to Firma Wuppermetail G.m.h.H.Wuppeital-larmen, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Nov. 19, 1963,Ser. No. 324,175() Claims priority, application Germany, Mar. lll, 1963,

6 Claims. (Cl. 22-63) The lpresent invention relates to a pig castingmachine, in general and to such pig casting machine in particular, inwhich always one group of adjacently arranged chills is conveyed below acasting device and from there to a pushing and lifting device, which isfollowed by a storing device moving together in layers the pigs of eachgroup of chills.

During the always more consequently performed automation of pig castingmachines, the point has been reached to perform as much as possibleautomatically not only the operational steps connected directly withactual casting of the pigs, rather all operational steps up to theremoval of a finished pile unit. Furthermore, the casting output wasstill more increased by the incorporation of effective cooling devices.

A pig casting machine is, thus, already known, which casts, defoams andstamps always simultaneously a plurality of pigs by means of a rotarytable advanced by intermittent strokes and carrying the sets of chillsIand nally pushes the cooled pigs by means of cam-controlled orhydraulically operated shafts out of their chills. Such a pushing devicebrings about in cooperation with a lifting device, which is arrangedabove and movable out of the range of the discharging point, the removalor an entire group of pigs, in order to feed the same to a rotary pilingtable. In order to grip the pigs, the latter are individually taken frombelow by tongues which are operated by a pressure medium. ln order tomake possible hereby an easy gripping of the pigs from below, the latterare equipped with corresponding gripping projections at their free ends.

Working cylinders, extending in the direction of movement of the movableremoval device, coordinated to the gripping tongues and subjected to theaction of a pressure medium, bring about subsequently a moving near toeach other of the pigs of the lifted group of pigs, and in particularfrom the outside toward the inside, so that the center pig retains itspresent position, while all the other pigs join the horizontaldisplacement performed by means of the gripping tongues. Thus, uponsetting the group of pigs upon the rotary piling table, an abuttingstaple layer results. The piling table can be turned for 90 after eachdepositing of a layer of pigs, until, after reaching the desired heightof the pile, the transportation of the finished pile can be performed.

The means causing the moving near to each other of the pigs, however,are too cumbersome, due to their complicated manner of mounting also tooliable to interferences and thus by no means adapted to the rough mannerof operation of a pig casting machine. Aside from the fact that only bymoving the pigs near to each other, by no means the desired innerposition stability of the layers of a piled-up heap of pigs can beobtained, it is to be Considered, that the pigs usually have atrapezoidal cross-section, so that by movement of such pigs near to eachother only an engagement along the edges and not along the surfaces isachieved.

On the other hand, it is already known for piling up of pigs withtrapezoidal cross section, to turn over every second pig of a pig layer,whereby the desired abutment along the surfaces is given. However, nooperating or 3,267,531 Patented August 23, 1966 auxiliary devices areprovided therefor; the piling is rather performed manually, so that theoperators piling up the pigs are constantly within the range of heatradiation of the pigs. Moreover, such manner of operation istimeconsuming and complicated, particularly since the pigs are providedwith inter-engaging projections and recesses and have to be depositedaccordingly.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a pigcasting machine, as set forth above, in which the pigs discharged fromthe chill are assembled to the smallest possible, safely standing pilein a fu-lly automatic operation and with a simple and strong design ofthe mac-hine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pig castingmachine, wherein a transportation fork is inserted below the pigs, whichare carried by a lifting device and which have trapezoidal cross-sectionand gripping projections, and wherein the lifting device turns everysecond pig about its longitudinal axis and the transportation fork takesover the pigs, and wherein an abutment enters between the prongs of thefork above a piling table adjustable as to its height, which abutmentstrips off the pigs from the transportation fork during the returnmovement of the latter, thereby moving the pigs near to each other.

Due to the now also mechanically performed turning over of every secondof the pigs having a trapezoidal cross-section, the advantageous, stableand space-saving formation of the pile can now also be performed withinthe working cycle of the machine. The turning over of the respectivepigs is brought about always during the upwardly directed movement ofthe lifting device. Subsequently a transportation fork takes over thepigs which are still spaced apart from each other, in order to pile upthe latter directly above a combined lifting and rotary table, by meansof a stationary abutment moving the pigs near to each other andstripping them off from the fork. Thus, the movement of the forkcarriage is used in an advantageous manner for the moving of t-he pigsnear to each other and for the subsequent stripping olf of the latter.The friction produced by the own Weight of the pigs during theirmovement near to each other has, thereby, a favorable effect on theuninterrupted and on large surfaces abutting assembling of each layer ofpigs. It has been found that the abutting position is suflicientlymaintained during the sliding olf of the pigs from the fork onto thepiling surface. Thus, the formation of a transportable pile is achieved.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pig castingmachine, wherein the favorable formation of the pile is coordinated tothe working cycle by the fact that a pressing stamp is disposed abovethe piling table which turns always for about which pressing stamppresses down the piling table stepwise for the height of the pigs. lnthe first place, the pressing stamp produces with sufficient accuracythe free space required for the next layer of pigs and the movementtherebelow of the fork, and, on the other hand, the same pressing stampprevents an edging of the pigs of the previously deposited layer. Duringthe lowering movement of the piling table the pigs are pressure-loaded.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pigcasting machine, wherein a favorable design, an operation free ofbreakdowns, and in particular a safe transfer of the pigs from thecombined lifting and turning device to the transportation fork isrealized in an advantageous manner.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pigcasting machine, wherein a movement-controlled straightening rake isprovided between the shoes of the lifting and turning device, whichshoes grip the pigs at their front ends and the prongs of which rakeextend in their -lowermost position between the pigs.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pig castingmachine, wherein in an advantageous manner the straightening rake has`two rows of prongs and the distance between the two prong rows issubstantially equal to the width of gripping projections provided at thepigs and entering i-n slots of the adjacent pigs. The arrangement of theprongs of the straightening rake which can be lowered onto the pigs issuch that an adjustment of the position of the individual pigs in thedirection of their longitudinal axis, as well as in crosswise directionrelative to each other is achieved. According to the present inventionit is favorable for the entry of the straightening rake, `capable ofbeing lowered into the row of pigs, i-f the prongs of the straighteningrake are bevelled inside at their ends.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a pigcasting machine, wherein the chills are designed such that it isadvantageous for the depositing of the pigs onto the surface of the pileand also for the holding by the straightening rake, so that the finishedpigs have gripping extensions projecting laterally on both sides at thebase of the trapezoidal cross-section at about the longitudinal centerof the pigs, while the upper side of the pigs has a slot extending overthe entire width of the pigs.

With these and other objects i-n view, which will become apparent in thefollowing detailed description, the present invention will be clearlyunderstood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a pig casti-ng machine, designed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the pig casting machine disclosed in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the lines 3-3 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the piling device of the pig casting machineaccording to the present invention, shown partly in section anddisclosing the position after deposit of a group of pigs;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the portion of the machine disclosing agroup of pigs on a previously deposited piling pallet;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section through the end of a chill showing theshaft which expels the pig from the chill; and

FIG. 7 is a section similar to that of FIG. 6, showing the pig inexpelled position.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. l and 2, thecompletely automatically operating pig casting machine comprises arotary table 1, a pouring device 2 and, furthermore, a bridge 3 disposedtangentially to the rotary table 1 and including a removal device 4 anda piling device 40.

The drive for the rotary table 1 is obtained by a motor 5. Anintermittently operating actuating means 6 is coordinated to the motor5, a switching lever 8 of which, being equipped with rollers 7, is inmesh with switching teeth 9 of the rotary table 1, so that the latter ismoved stepwise in the direction of the arrow x (FIG. 2).

A plurality of groups 10 of individual chills 10' are arranged annularlyand in radial direction on the edge portion 1 of the rotary table 1,which groups 10 pass successively the pouring device 2, in order to thenreach the removal device 4 during the stepwise advancing movement. Acasting lip 11 is coordinated to each individual chill 10 of a chillgroup 10 and the casting material flows through the lips 11 into thechills 10 upon tipping the ladle 12.

Furthermore, a chill 13 is inserted in the sequence of the chill groups10 for the production of a pallet 14 (FIG. 5). The casting material isfed also into this pallet chill 13 by means of all casting lips 11, sothat the time for filling is the same for all chills. Therefore, the

pallet chill 13 has inlet troughs 15 projecting on opposite sides beyondthe proper square form of the pallet body, which troughs 15 extend attheir widest portions over the area of the casting lips 11. The depth ofthe troughs 15 is, however, relatively small, so that only relativelylittle metal circulating between casting and melting remains in thosetroughs 15. Thus, during the same casting time of the casting lips 11substantially the same amount of material can flow into the pallet chill13 as into a chill group 10. Opposite the range of the casting `lips 10,the inlet troughs 15 are tapered down to the actual width of the squarepallet chill 13.

During the subsequent lifting of the pallet 14 from the chill 13 priorto reaching the storing device, which pallet 14 is already sufficiently'cooled before reaching the storing device, the cast-on projections,formed by the contents of the inlet troughs 15 and Irepresentingcirculating material, break off easily, this breaking off being causedby the expulsion device. They are then fed again to the melting furnace.

Finally, the pallet chill 13 is provided with recesses 16 arranged atopposite sides and spaced apart from each other at a predetermineddistance. These recesses 16 produce the gripping projections 17, servingthe purpose of gripping of the pallet by the removing device 4. Thegripping projections 1'7 have moreover the same crosssection as the pigs18 (FIG. 5). The pallet 14 is equipped with legs 19, so that a four-waypenetration of the lifting fork, for example, a fork storing device,into the tunnel-like, free space is Ymade possible.

The removal of the meanwhile cooled groups of pigs 18 as well as of thepallet 14 repeating in predetermined intervals, is also performed withinthe cycle of the casting process.

Referring now again to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 3, thecorresponding removal device 4 is disclosed. At first, the rotary table1 is automatically adjusted as to its position by means of an arrestingdevice 20, after a group 10 of chills 10 is in a position below theremoval device 4. Hydraulically or pneumatically operated `cylindricalshafts 21, which are simultaneously projecting through the bottoms 10"of all chills 10 of a chill group 10, lift the pigs 18 of this chillgroup into the position indicated in point-dotted lines in FIG. 3. Inthe position in which the chi-lls 10 are ready to be filled, however,the cylindrical shafts 21 are returned to be almost fiush with thesurface of the bottom 10 of the chills 10 (FIG. 6). Only the slightlyspherically designed free ends of the shafts 21 project for a shortlength into the hollow space defined by the chills 11)'. Furthermore,the openings 22 for the passage of the cylindrical shafts 21 aredimensioned such that no liquid metal can pass through these passageopenings 22. It has been found that the spherically designed ends of theshafts 21 are suitable in an advantageous manner for a safely operatinglifting of the pigs 13. The swingable gripping arms 24 of a liftingdevice 25, which gripping arms 24 are equipped with shoes 23, grip thefree ends 18 of the pigs 1S, in order to move the latter into theposition shown in full lines in FIG. 3.

The gripping arms 24 are pivotally mounted on a yoke 26, which i-ssecured to the lower end of the piston rod 27 of a working cylinder 2dand thus transmits the lifting movements. The relatively performedswinging movement of the gripping arms 24 is brought about by means ofhydraulically controlled cylinders 2.9, which are pivoted at one end tothe yoke 26 and at the other end to the gripping arms 24.

During the upwardly directed movement of the lifting device 25 a turningof every second pig 18, and in particular for about its longitudinalaxis takes place simultaneously, so that at a later time point a movingto each other of the individual pigs 18, without leaving any spacetherebetween, is possible, whereby the pigs 18 have a trapezoidalcross-section also for reasons of the casting technique. Rigidly securedshoes 23 are, therefore, coordinated to the pigs 18 which are not to beturned over, whereas rotatable shoes 23 are coordinated to the pigs 18to be turned over. The rotatable shoes 23 are provided with shaft pins30, which reach into a housing-like projection 31 `of the gripping arms24. A toothed gear 32 is keyed to the free end of each of the shaft pins30, which toothed gear 32 is in connection with a gear rack 33 (FIG. 3),which is subjected to the action of a pressure medium and causes theturning movement. The working cylinder 34 driving the gear rack 33 is,preferably, housed in the housing-like projection 31.

After the turning of every second pig 18 is completed, a straighteningrake 35 (FIG. 3), the movement of which is controlled by the pressurecylinders 38, is now lowered, which rake 35 is provided with a doublerow of teeth 36. The straightening rake 35 has the function to adjustthe position of the group of pigs 18 such,` that each pair of teeth 36engages the gripping projectio-ns 18 cast at about the longitudinalcenter of the pigs 18 at the base G (FIG. of the trapezoidalcross-section of the pigs 18. The free distance y (FIG. 3) of the twotooth rows corresponds substantially with the width of the grippingpirojections 18". Furthermore, the teeth 36 of the straightening rake 35are bevelled at their ends on the inner side. Any movement of the pigs18 i-n the direction of their longitudinal axis, as well as in crosswisedirection relative to each other is prevented, so that now the enti-regroup of pigs 18 can be released for the purpose of transferring it to atransportation carriage 37, that means, the gripping arms 24 swing out,therefore, in the direction of the arrow z (FIG. 3). The straighteningrake 35, controlled by means of the two pressure cylinders 38 (FIG. 1),is equipped with a connecting frame 39 for the purpose of providing agood parallel guidance.

The transportation carriage 37, conveying the pig group from the removaldevice 4 to the piling device 40 (FIGS. 1 and 4), has a transportationfork 41 gripping from below the pig group and furthermore rollers 43running on stationary rails 42 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The drive of thetransportation carriage 37, appropriately adapted to the working cycleof the machine, takes place by means of pulling chains 44, which in turnare guided over winches 45 and directional pulleys 46 and are connectedwith a working cylinder 47 (FIG. 1).

Shortly before terminating the movement of the transportation carriage37 in the direction towards the piling device 40, a movement near toeach other and a following stripping off of the group of pigs 18 takesplace, and in particular, by means of a stationary abutment angle 48(FIG. 5) which extends into the path of the carriage 37. At rst the pig18 closest to the abutment angle 48 strikes against the abutment 48. Thefork 41, moving away continuously below the pigs 18, feeds eachfollowing pig 18 in the direction of the abutment 48 against thepreviously moved pig 18, so that the narrow Ilongitudinal side faces 18of the pigs 18 engage each other totally over their engaging faces andabut against each other without any spacing. The gripping projections18" cast to the narrow longitudinal side faces 18 enter successivelyinto corresponding slots 18"', which extend over the entire width of theupper face g of the pigs 18. The engagement of the individual pigs 18with each other causes an advantageous abutting position of the pigs 18,even then, if they perform a passing slight tipping movement at themoment of sliding off of the pigs from the pointedly shaped carryingfork 41. The stripping off of the pig groups, as well as the strippingolf of the pallet 14, previously performed in the same manner, whichpallet 14 serves as a loading surface, thereby takes place exactly-above the combined lifting and rotary table 49 (FIGS. l and 4)constituting the piling device 40.

After each deposit of a layer of pigs 18, a pressure stamp 50 arrangeddirectly above the piling device 40 in the bridge 3 presses the piledownwardly for a corresponding length by means of a stamping plate 51,so that a sutliciently large free space for the displacement of thetransportation fork 41 of the carriage 37 is again available. Inaddition, the pressure stamp .maintains also the pig group free fromturning. The lowering move ment of the pressure stamp 50 is alsoperformed within the working cycle of the machine.

A car 52 (FIG. 4) guided on tracks 52 `carries the completed pile, forexample, into a pile store, where it is taken over by a lifting deviceVand can be fed to a weighing device, in order to be shipped as a pileunit ready for selling.

During the expulsion of the pallet 14 from the pallet chill 13, theshoes 23 only, which are rigidly mounted on the gripping arms 24, gripthe gripping projections 17 formed at the pallet 14.` The shoes 23,which normally bring about the turning of every second pig 18turn,thereby, idle, and in particular in the recesses 53 (FIG. 5) of thepallet 14 formed at a distance identical with that of the grippingprojections 17.

The `casting output of a pig casting machine depends, not at last, alsoupon a possibly fastest cooling of the chill groups. Cooling airchannels 54 (FIG. 3) are provided below the bottom 10" of the chillgroups 10, as well as, below the pallet chill 13. These channels 54 haveguide walls 55 (FIG. 3) disposed in the direction of the ow of thecooling air, furthermore outwardly directed `suction openings 56 andinwardly disposed-kneeshaped branches 57 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The lattermove within the cycle of the stepwise advance stroke over correspondingbranches 58 of a cooling channel 59 (FIGS. 1 and 2), which is connectedto a suction blower (not shown). The cooling channel 59 is of abouthorseshoe shape, so that the chill groups 1t), disposed in the closerrange of the removal device 4, are not connected with the cooling air.

While we have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it isto be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and notin a limited sense, the scope of the present invention being determinedby the objects and the claims.

We claim:

1. A pig casting machine, comprising a plurality of .groups ofadjacently arranged chills,

`a device pouring material successively into each of said glrlollllps ofchills to form pigs complementary to said c 1 s,

means for moving successively said groups of chills below said pouringdevice,

means for removing said pigs from said chills,

means for lifting each of said group of pigs from said removing means toa conveying position,

means for piling up adjacent each other said pigs of each of saidgroups,

said piling means following said lifting means,

said pigs being of trapezoidal cross-section and having grippingprojections,

said lifting means including means for turning each second pig of eachof said groups for an angle of .about 180 about its longitudinal axis,

a transporation fork having at least two teeth and receiving said pigsfrom said lifting means,

means for changing the level position of said piling means, and

an abutment means disposed between said teeth of said transportation`fork `above said piling means and stripping off said pigs from saidtransporation fork and, thereby, moving closely to each other said pigsduring the return stroke of said transportation fork.

2. The pig casting machine, as set forth in claim 1, which includesmeans for turning intermittently said piling means for an angle of abouta pressure stamp disposed above and engaging the uppermost of saidgroups of pigs supported by said piling means, and

said pressure stamp lowering intermittently said p-iling means and,thereby, said -groups of pigs supported by the latter for substantiallythe height of said pigs.

3. The pig casting machine, as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said lifting means includes shoes :gripping the end positions ofsaid pigs,

a straightening rake having at least two teeth and dis- 10 posed betweensaid shoes, .and said teeth of said straightening rake enter betweensaid pigs in the lowermost position of said teeths. 4. The pig castin-gmachine, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said teeth of saidstraightening rake are inclined at their inside at the ends thereof. 5.The pig casting machine, as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of saidpigs has gripping projections extending from one of the longitudinalfaces of said pigs and the diametrical opposite face of said pigs 'has acomplementray recess receiving said gripping projections from closelyadjacent pigs, and

said teeth of said straightening rake are spaced apart at a distanceequal with that of the width of said gripping projections.

6. The pig casting machine, as set forth in claim 5,

wherein said chills have recesses complementary to said grippingprojections of said pigs and projections complementary to said recessesof said pigs.

No references cited.

J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

V. K. RISING, Assistant Examiner.

1. A PIG CASTING MACHINE, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF GROUPS OF ADJACENTLY ARRANGED CHILLS A DEVICE POURING MATERIAL SUCCESSIVELY INTO EACH OF SAID GROUPS OF CHILLS TO FORM PIGS COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID CHILLS, MEANS FOR MOVING SUCCESSIVELY SAID GROUPS OF CHILLS BELOW POURING DEVICE, SAID MEANS FOR REMOVING SAID PIGS FROM SAID CHILLS, MEANS FOR LIFTING EACH OF SAID GROUP OF PIGS FROM SAID REMOVING MEANS TO A CONVEYING POSITION, MEANS FOR PILING UP ADJACENT EACH OTHER SAID PIGS OF EACH OF SAID GROUPS, SAID PILING MEANS FOLLOWING SAID LIFTING MEANS, SAID PIGS BENG OF TRAPEZOIDAL CROSS-SECTION AND HAVING GRIPPING PROJECTIONS, SAID LIFTING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR TURNING EACH SECOND PIG OF EACH OF SAID GROUPS FOR AN ANGLE OF ABOUT 180* ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, A TRANSPORTATION FORK HAVING AT LEAST TWO TEETH AND RECEIVING SAID PIGS FROM SAID LIFTING MEANS, MEANS FOR CHANGING THE LEVEL POSITION OF SAID PILING MEANS, AND AN ABUTMENT MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID TEETH OF SAID TRANSPORTATION FORK ABOVE SAID PILING MEANS AND STRIPPING OFF SAID PIGS FROM SAID TRANSPORTATION FORK AND, THEREBY, MOVING CLOSELY TO EACH OTHER SAID PIGS DURING THE RETURN STROKE OF SAID TRANSPORTATION FORK. 